252 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 30, 1893. 
Imperatrice Maria Feodorotoia (L4v&que). — Bright rose-coloured 
flower, clear and bright; large, full, and globular. 
J. Prowe (Ldveque).—Bright red flower ; uniform, large, and full. 
Madame Ilenri Perrin (Schwartz). — Bright lilac carmine red 
flower, the petals bordered and shaded with light rose, silvery on the 
reverse sides ; large, full, sweet, the petals in the centre fringed. 
Madame Vignat (Liabaud).—Light red flower, sometimes bright red ; 
very large, full, and very sweet. 
Souvenir de Poncet (Pernet).—Light rose coloured flower ; large, 
nearly full, and very sweet. 
\-^\Souvenir du Dr. Payen (Vigneron).—Bright red flower, slightly 
velvety ; large, full, and sweet. 
Spenser (W. Paul).—Fine glossy red flower, outside petals dark, and 
white on the reverse sides ; very large, very full and compact in shape, 
opening well. 
Violet Queen (Gr. Paul),—Dark crimson flower, shaded with violet ; 
large, full, cup-shaped.—D., Deal. 
AMARYLLISES AT CHELSEA. 
Interest in the work of Amaryllis improvement as carried on by 
Messrs. Veitch & Sons at Chelsea appears to deepen rather than diminish 
as the years roll on. Stage succeeds stage, and yet the climax is not 
reached. The main attributes held in view by the hybridisers several 
years ago have nearly all been secured, but still points of advance 
suggest themselves, and so each succeeding season finds fresh improve¬ 
ments. Considering the beauty and value of the plant, it is not a matter 
for surprise to find that the attractiveness of the Chelsea collection grows 
yearly. To the list of visitors who annually inspect it in order to keep 
pace with the march of improvement are to be added fresh names each 
year, and these in turn usually come to make a periodical journey to the 
Amaryllis home. 
The present season will perhaps have taken some intending callers a 
little by surprise. The long spell of warm and genial weather in March, 
so unusual at this period of the year, brought the plants on with great 
rapidity, and the consequence is that the bloom is fully a fortnight 
earlier than usual. Should this intimation catch the eye of any person 
who is proposing to make a call any time during the next few weeks he 
or she will not act unwisely if a determination is arrived at to go at 
once. It will be some time before the collection is quite over, but just 
now it is quite at its best. It is difficult to avoid indulging in a little 
retrospection when standing in the Amaryllis house once more and 
endeavouring to make a compari.son between the present and past 
seasons. The result in the minds of many will probably be a conclusion 
that for wealth of bloom the present season eclipses all its predecessors. 
The forest of vigorous spikes appears to have grown thicker, the mass 
of brilliant flowers seems to have become more dense. Surveying the 
collection as a whole from an elevated position at the entrance to the 
house strengthens this impression. Without doubt there is an advance 
in the floriferousness of the plants. Another point will probably strike 
regular visitors—the collection as a whole is dwarfer. The plants have 
not lost an iota of their vigour, the scapes are as stout and strong as 
they have ever been, but an inch or two have been gained all round, 
for, within certain limits, dwarfness is an advantage. 
The character of the flowers exhibits no marked change. The work 
has now gone too far for that; development can only be gained 
slowly. But if we see no great steps made in size of bloom there is a 
welcome advance in other important qualities. The flowers are becoming 
more rounded, the segments having lost their old sharpness and having 
become more evenly disposed. This is giving a far superior type of 
flower to the old, and may fairly be said to be more important than mere 
size. It is more difficult to soften the sharpness of the petals than of the 
sepals, but this object is being steadily achieved. The rounder and the 
more closely disposed the segments are the more refined and beautiful is 
the flower, consequently progress in this direction is followed with 
interest and satisfaction. 
Another improvement is the multiplication of self flowers. Tastes 
differ, of course, but it may be supposed that the great majority of 
Amaryllis lovers will welcome the elimination of the central rays, 
especially those of a greenish tinge. If not an absolute disfigurement to 
the flower they detract in some measure from its beauty, and, moreover, 
are the sign and token of first principles rather than advanced evolution. 
The seifs are now the most popular class, and the increase of their 
numbers adds, and will add, to the merit of the collection. Light 
flowers, too, are popular, and their beauty, whether lightly or heavily 
flaked and reticulated, cannot be gainsaid. To sum up the present signs 
of progress in Amaryllises, the two leading points are roundness of bloom 
and self colours. The further development of both may be hoped for 
and expected. 
The following comprise twenty-four of the most meritorious novelties 
of the present year :—Coracle, dwarf, of fine habit, strong and free, rich 
scarlet; Dolabel, small but very neat, crimson with white rays, free and 
bright; Mirabella, white, lined and reticulated with rosy red, well 
rounded, a dwarf sturdy variety; Nyanza, rich crimson scarlet, well 
rounded, dwarf and good ; Cherub, white, regularly lined with rosy red, 
free and dwarf ; Leonidas, scarlet suffused wdth purple, a large and 
brilliant flower ; Phyllis, white with a few flushes of rosy red, large 
bloom, dwarf grower ; Norma, heavily flaked and reticulated with 
crimson, dwarf, strong and very free ; Pompadour, rich deep crimson, 
an enormous flower with great breadth of petal; Eenown, light red 
with central bars of white, beautiful shape, well-rounded segments, a 
strong grower and very free; Calabar, intense crimson with purple 
suffusion, dwarf and free ; Hecla, purplish crimson with yellowish rays ; 
Ninus, vermilion white rays, segments beautifully rounded and recurved ; 
Leerdan, bright scarlet crimson, fine large well shaped flower ; Vedette, 
rich crimson purple, perhaps the deepest of all, medium size and of 
good shape ; Jocasta, white, crimson bars, a finely rounded flower ; 
Mysis, rich purplish crimson with white rays and flakes, a very large 
flower of good shape, dwarf and sturdy ; Smollett, rich scarlet, very 
strong and free ; Dacca, brilliant but soft shade of red, white rays, good 
shape ; Phormis, deep margin of crimson, centre white, broad sepals and 
a well rounded flower ; Archelaus, glistening crimson self with purple 
suffusion; Palliser, rich crimson self, purple suffusion ; Princess Marie, 
white with a few flakes, a beautifully moulded flower; and Sardius, 
almost a self, but with very small central rays, large round flower, and 
a dwarf strong grower. 
The healthy condition of all the plants justifies a few remarks in 
reference to management. At the time of our visit (March 24th), the 
plants had only been watered twice since last August, the first time 
being a month ago, yet they are conspicuous by their fresh appearance, 
the foliage being substantial and of the richest colour. The Chelsea 
growers hold that over-watering is one of the commonest evils in 
Amaryllis culture. Their plants are liberally watered after flowering 
while making their growth ; but after the end of July the supplies are 
lessened, more air and sun are admitted, and the plants are gradually 
ripened off. In October they are lifted from the spent tan in which 
they are plunged and stood upon the stage, receiving not a drop of water 
throughout the winter. This treatment insures plump and well matured 
bulbs. Another point of interest in connection with the cultural treat¬ 
ment is the small size of the pots used. They consist of 5 and 6-inch, 
none larger, and in these enormous bulbs are growing. These matters 
may be worth consideration on the part of private cultivators, for the 
results at Chelsea are too strikingly satisfactory to admit of any doubt 
as to the soundness of the methods pursued. 
DEATH OF MR. JOHN GARRET. 
We regret to announce the death of Mr. John Garret, a respected 
northern florist, which took place on the 18th March last at 13, Lands- 
downe Terrace, Gosforth, near Newcastle-on-Tyne. Mr. Garret, who 
was sixty-nine years of age, was from a very early period of his life an 
enthusiast in horticultural matters. All through an active business 
career he lost no opportunity of pursuing his favourite recreation, and 
made the subject so thoroughly his own that he enjoyed a considerable 
reputation in the north both as an exhibitor and as an authority. When 
he retired from business in 1880 he removed to Hindley, near Stocks- 
field-on-Tyne, and there his tastes obtained full scope. His garden soon 
became known as one of the horticultural treats of the neighbourhood, 
and he always welcomed anyone interested in plant culture. 
While at Hindley Mr. Garret enhanced his reputation as a successful 
exhibitor. His principal successes were in Begonias and Zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums. These he brought to a remarkable perfection, and with them 
was repeatedly first at the Newcastle shows. The expiry of his lease 
compelled him to leave Hindley, and he took up his residence at 
Gosforth. There his opportunities for floriculture were very limited, 
but he retained his interest in it till the last. He subscribed to the 
first number of the Cottage Gardener, and took considerable pride in 
his well bound set of it, and its continuation volumes of the Journal 
of Horticulture, and to the diligent study of their pages he attributed 
much of his proficiency in the art of plant culture. Several years ago, 
when one of the staff of this paper was in the north, Mr. Garret learned 
that he was one of six who were known to have been among the original 
subscribers. He often alluded with gratification to this fact. 
Mr. Garret took an active part in encouraging horticulture, and was an 
enthusiastic supporter of the Newcastle Botanical Society. For a long 
period he was a member of the Committee of that body, for some time 
occupying the position of Vice-Chairman. At the time of his death he 
was the only honorary life member of the Society, a mark of distinction 
conferred upon him in recognition of his disinterested and unwearying 
services to the cause in the North of England. 
GARDENERS’ ASSOCIATIONS AND SITUATIONS. 
I WAS more than pleased to read the outspoken remarks, under this 
heading, of your correspondent “ A., Yorks," in a recent issue (page 173), 
as he gives expression to views that I have long held mjself. If the Royal 
Horticultural Society, which is looked upon as the exponent of practical 
horticulture in this country, could be prevailed upon (in addition to its 
other w'ork) to inaugurate a “ National Registry,” where employers 
might seek and find good gardeners, I believe (with your correspondent) 
the Society would get a much larger share of the gardeners’ support 
than at present, and employers might also be expected to associate them¬ 
selves with the Society. 
The “ National Registry ” could be “ worked ” well with the Society’s 
examination scheme. Of course the “ Registry ” would not be confined 
to those only who [ resented themselves at the examinations. It would 
be open to all who chose to avail themselves of it. Would it not be an 
incentive to an employer to engage a man who had passed successfully 
through these examinations (not, by any means, that these will cause all 
the good men to come forward) ? which, let u* hope, will tend towards 
a considerable thinning out, to use a gardening term, of so-called 
gardeners in the ranks ; this latter class causing the over-supply we must 
all deplore to see at the present day, and acting most prejudicially in 
the all-important matter of remuneration to really good men. 
